In a historic turn of events, Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, making him the first current or former president in American history to face criminal charges.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the indictment with US media, which has been filed under seal and is set to be announced in the coming days.
The charges against Trump are not publicly known at this time, according to one source who spoke to CNN.
However, the former president has been under investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office for his alleged involvement in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up related to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Following the announcement of the indictment, the district attorney (DA)’s office will reportedly reach out to Trump’s attorneys to discuss his surrender and arraignment.
The news of the indictment is sure to send shockwaves across the country, as the American political system has never seen one of its ex-leaders confronted with criminal charges, let alone while running again for president.
This legal action against Trump will jolt the 2024 presidential campaign into a new phase, as the former president has vowed to keep running in the face of criminal charges.
Trump has frequently called the various investigations surrounding him a “witch hunt,” attempting to sway public opinion on them by casting himself as a victim of what he’s claimed are political probes led by Democratic prosecutors.
As news of the indictment reportedly neared, Trump urged his supporters to protest his arrest, echoing his calls to action following the 2020 election as he tried to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges throughout his personal, professional, and political lives, Trump has long avoided significant legal consequences.
He has settled a number of private civil lawsuits over the years and paid his way out of disputes concerning the Trump Organization.
As president, he was twice impeached by the Democratic-led House but avoided conviction by the Senate.
However, with this indictment, Trump is facing a legal battle unlike any he has faced before.
